BIO- DATA OF KESU DAS

1. Name: Kesu Das2. Father's Name: Late Ramakrishna Das3. Mother's Name: Late Sushila Das4. Born: 1st March, 1965

At: Dublagadi, P.S. Balabalpur Marine,Dist: Balasore, in Orissa, India

5. Sex and Marital Status:

a) Male b) Married

Adhaar Card No – 2624 0148 1899

6. Education: Degree in Indian Paintings (B.F.A.) in 1987, BerhampurUniversity, OrissaMaster Degree in painting (M.F.A.) in 2003, M.G. Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanashi, (U.P.)

7. Nationality: Indian

II. Recognition:National Senior Fellowship- 2014-16 by Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India

1. Awardsa) Orissa Lalit Kala Academy, Bhubaneshwar (Young Artist)-1987b) Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata- 2000c) Jaipur Fine Arts Academy- 2003d) Deepak Art Trust, Jamsedpur, Jharkhand- 2008

2.Felicitations:a) Orissa Lekhika Sannsad in 1996b) Balasore Urban Cooperative Bank -1996c) Samparka Sambardhana, Balasore -1998d) Chhanda Acharya Kala Samman (Chandrabhaga)- 1998e) Pratibha Sambardhana, Balasore-2001f) Silpi Udayanarayan Jena Smruti Samman- 2003g) Dinakrushna Sahitya Parishad, Jaleshwar -2004h) Dinakrushna Sahitya Parashad -2005

i) Balasore Minicipality 2006j) Rotary Club of Balasore 2006k) Sanskarika -2006l) Mirza Pokhari Chandan Committee 2006m) Pride of Sand City -2007n) Baniswana Pathagar -2008o) Bhubaneshwar Bahi Mela(Cover Design) -2008p) Birendra Biswal Kala Samman -2010q) Chitra kala Samman, Mallahar, Cuttack -2011r) Bidya Bharati Chitrakala Samman-2012

s) Aaji News Chitrakala Samman-2012t) Gyanashree Prativa Samman-2013

u) New Dream Chitrakala Samman-2013v) Jaleswar Art Foundation, Jaleswar- 2014w) Karmayogi Award, N. D. Glover Lalit Kala Academy, Dugda, Jhadakhand-2014x) Prativa-Prabruti-Kala-Kirti Chitrashilpi Samman, Nilgiri, Balasore- 2015,y) Rangaraga Chitrashilpi Samman, Basudev Pur, Bhadrak- 2015z) Prativa Paribar Chitrashilpi Award- Khaira, Balasore- 2016a) Uday Samman, Sahayoga, Balasore – 2016b) Emami Chitrakala Samma, Emami Paper mills, Balasoe- 2017c) Viswabidyalay Samman, FM University, Balasore- 2017d) Chitrashree Samman, Janani Foundation, Bhubaneswar – 2017e) Anup Smruti Samman, Ramarani Group of Institute, Balasore 2018f) Vivekananda Siskhakendra Samman, Kuruda, Balasore- 2018g) Chitrasilpi Samman, Amity University, Gurgawn, - 2018h) Chitrasantha Samman, Tribeniswar Temple Committee, 2018i) Silpiguru Samman, Golden Jubilee Committee of Stone Carving Artists Co

operative Society & Silver Jubilee Committee of Stone Carving Training Centre,Baula Gadia, Nilagiri 2018

j) Nrutyasikha Samman 2018 by Nrutyasikha Foundation, Jaleswar, Blsk) Patidion ru Pattachitra Samman, Odisha Lalit Kala Academy, Puri- 2018

3. Citationsa) Barta Pratishthan -1995 b) Ajira Barta -1995c) Dr. H.K. Mohatab Smruti Sanshad -1995d) Ajikali, Balasore -1996

e) Dhwani Pratidhwani -1996f) Balasore Swadbinata Sangrami Pratishthan -2003g) Banipith, Mayubhanj –2004

4. Solo Show: Helping Tsunami Victims at Rotary Club of Balasore – 2005

5. Group Showa) Orissa Lalit kala Academy, Bhubaneshwar 1987b) Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata- 2000c) Fakirmohan Sahitya Parishad, Santi Kanan, Balasore - 1989, 1991,1994d) Kunst aus Indien, German – 2001e) Golden Beach Festival, Chandipur – 2002f) Jaipur Fine Arts Academy- 2003g) Painting Exhibition at Rotary Club of Balasore - 2006 to 2008h) Modern Art Gallery Bhubaneswae 2008,i) Deepak Art Trust, Jamsedpur, Jharkhand- 2008j) Creative Voyage, New Delhi -2012k) All India Art Exhibition, New Delhi – 2014l) The Khairi Painting Exhibition, Balasore- 2015m) Natitional Painting Exhibition, EFAC, Balasore- 2016n) First International Kala Mela, New Delhi - 2018

6. Installation Arta) On the occasion of Fakirmohan Jayanti at Santi Kanan, Balasore in 2003 to 2005b)“Way to Art” Mayurbhanj Art Project at Mayurbhanj by Hole Foundation, Baripada-

2914c) Performing Visual Art Show: “The Liquit Live” at Balasore- 2014d) Public Art Show- “The Public” at Balasore – 2014

“Beyond the Art” at Balasore – 2014

e) The Waste-installation - Jaleswar, Balasore-2014, 2015

8. Art Campa) Active Grouping Artists (AGA), Balasore – 1994b) Chandrobhagosthab, Balasore - 1996

c) Spirit of India, Mumbai - 2007

d) All India Artists’ Camp, Patna - 2007e) All India Artists’ Camp at Gwalior - 2007f) Basant Rash Art Camp at Aligarh – 2008

g) 1st All India Artists’ Camp at Chitrakut- 2012h) 2nd State Level Artist Camp at JAF, Jaleswari) 1st Artist Camp, N. D. Glover Lalit Kala Academy, Dugda, Jhadakhand-

2014j) The Khairi- a Painting Camp at Jashipur, Mayurbhanj 2014-15k) Amity University, Gurgaon- 2018

9. Cartoon Shows: At several places in Odisha

10. Seminara) Contemporary Art in Orissa at BACC, Balasore - 2002

b) State Level Seminar on Folk Art to Contemporary Art in Orissa- 2007c) National Seminar on Lack in Indian Art & Culture – 2007

d) Folk Art of Balasore by INTACH, Balasore Chapter - 2011e) Art in Present Time by Young Hearts, Balasore- 2013-14f) Meet the Artist (Lacquer Dolls Making) JDCA, Nayapalli, BBSR-2015g) Art for Society, Easter Foundation of Art & Culture, Balasore 2016h) Speaking Fingers of Odianee, Utkaliya Jhoti Pratisthana, Bls- 2017i) Contemporary Art & Culture, Kalinga Literary Festival, BBSR - 2018

11. Documentary Film:a) Mu Nilagiria, Plastic bagtharu bahu duria (Direction- 3mnt 39 sec) 2018

12. Organizational Competency:a) Sand Art Camp, Chandipur - 1999 to 2007b) Sand Art Camp, Balasore - 1999 to 2007c) Workshop on Baleswari Jaukandhei - 2006d) Door to Door Tribal Art Camp - 2007e) Painting Exhibitions at Balasore - 1988 to 2008f) National Seminar on Lac in Indian Art & Culture - 2007g) Baleswari Child Art Competition - 2006 to 2008h) Chandrabhaga’s Creative Strokes -A National Art Camp – 2008i) SEP through Cluster Development in Lacquer Craft in the District of Balasore in

Orissa under Craft Village Scheme with RDF, DIC, Balasore , DH&CI, Govt.ofOrissa and SIDAC, Odisha - 2005-06

j) Lacquer Art & Craft Exhibitions during Sabitri Brata - 2006-09k) Street Jhoti Workshop, Balasore -2009 to 2014l) Tribal Wall Painting Competition – 2008 to 2014m) Jaukandhei Bahaghara - 2011-18

n) Naba Matruka Puja – 2011-17o) Balire Noividya- 2011- 2017

p) Utkalaa Painting Camp - 2014q) Lakdhe Lakshmipada Jhoti Exhibition- 2014 to 17r) The Khairi- a Painting Camp at Jashipur, Mayurbhanj 2014-15s) Pati Dion Ankan Utsav at NOCCi Utkalaa – 2015,16,17

13. Publication:a) Barnamala Saha Sahaja Kartun Shiksha(Oriya) – 1998b) Kantha Stitching – I - 2008

c) “Baleswara Lokkala Jaukandhei”- (Editor) Souvenir– 2009, 10, 17&18d) Sakhira Aakhi (Illustration with Poetry) -2013

III. Institutional Involvements:a) Baleswari Kala Kendra, Balasore -Founder Executive Directorb) Fakir Mohan Art & Craft School, Balasore –Ex-Principalc) Fakir Mohan Univesity Athic Committee - Memberd) Institute of Nature Cure & Yogic Science- Executive Membere) Educare, Balsore- Faculty Memberg) Balasore Art & Craft College -Founder Member and Ex Vice Principal,h) Sansksar Bharati – Ex. Prantiya Chitrakala Pramukhi) The Waste –Installation- Convenerj) Utkalaa Silpagram, NOCCi Biznes Park, Balasore- Adviserk) Ramkrishna Kala Kendra- Founder Member

l) NOCCi Cultural Academy- Unit Headm) Utkaliya Jhoti Pratisthan- Convener

n) Remuna Nabamatruka Puja Committee- Convenero) Ekatra Baleswar, Bhubaneswar – Convenerp) Association for Biodiversity Conservation- Executive Memberq) Bana Dhulira Phula- Executive Memberr) Golaka Khyatriya Maheshwa Samaj- Executive Members) Jaukandhei Bahaghara Utsav Committee – Convener & Founder Secretaryt) Gyanashree – Senior Adviser

IV. Job Performances:a) Illustrations: More than 15,000b) Cover Design: More than 1000

c) Cover Design of Excellent Publications of Eminent Authors:Sri Brajanath Rath, Dr. Santanu Acharya, Dr. Prahallad Mohanty, Dr.Harishchandra Behera, Smt. Binodini Patra, Sri Saurendra Barik, Dr. BrundabanChandra Acharya, Mrunal, Sri Gangadhar Biswal, Sri Banchhanidhi Das, SriBrahmananda Das, Smt. Dipti Das, Sri Siv Sankar Pilai, Smt. Sanjukta Rout,Malakar, Sri Binay Das, Sri Prasanta Das, Sri Madhusudan Das, Sri HemendraMohapatra, Dr. Pradeep Bhoumik , Dr.Choudhury Satyabrata Nanda and more..

d) Cover Design of Excellent Publications of Eminent International Authors: Dans PaRos Och Trone by Elena Dahl, Swedish Novelist & Translator and On Wings & OtherPoems by Dr. Rabinarayan Dash, Oriya & English Poet & Novelist, Lund, Sweden

V. At Present:Assigned as Executive Director of Baleswari Kala Kendra- an organizationcommitted for the promotion & development of art & artists satisfying art lovers.

Contact: Kesu Das, Advisor,Utkalaa Shilpagram,NOCCi Business Park, BampadaP.O. + Chhanpur, Dist; Balasore- 756056Odisha, Indiae-mail: silpikesudas@gmail.comwebsite: www.jaukandhei.com

Contribution of Kesu Das to Indian Art Field

A thin man having long hair and mustard called Kesu Das, a well-known person toevery family, is a living legend in the sector of art and culture of Balasore.Extraordinary work style and creative thought gives a new stroke to his activity andto its conversations. As a follower of Fakir Mohan Senapati, eminent Odia writer hehas dedicated his life in revive the Baleshwari- Jaukandhei, a traditional artwork. Torevive, redevelop, and reestablish the vanished, ignored and no discussed art, artistand culture of his district, he is working as a dedicated volunteer. Since threedecades, he is working as a committed worker for the development of child art,cartoon, tribal art, sand art and Baleswari folk art. He gives his all effort and eligibilityfor the sake of art and culture. Even if he has financial problem, he never care for it.He always works for the enhancement of art, artist and culture.

Contribute to Indian visual art field.

Silpi Das is an only painter in India who have started new medium colour likelacquer on canvas. He has experiment with local folk art colour medium lacquer &established a new vision in Indian art field. He got senior fellowship on Visual Artfrom Culture Dept. Govt. of India from 2014 to 2016. During the fellowship period heresearched details about Indian Lacquer Art & Culture and recorded a 300 pagesvaluable document. Which is one of valuable documentation for Indian Visual Art.

Contribute to Baleshwar art and cultureHe electrolyzed the people of Odisha by reviving the Baleshwari - Jaukandhei,

the disappearing folk craftwork of this district. Many women take part in this novelwork and get trained in making Jaukandhei. He inspired writers and play actors towork on this culture, on theire field. Jaukandhei became character/symbol of cultureBaleshwar and its traditon.women started worshping Jaukandhei in the occasion ofSavitri Srata,which was an old tradition but people forgotten it.Then a new pageadded to baleshawr culture named as ‘‘Jaukandhei Bahagharo’’ the marriagebetween two lacquer dolls and this marriage became a cultural festival ofBaleshawar.

Contribute to Odishan Traditional Art RitualsRecognize Patidion Cult: Patidion Ankana Utsav

We also glad to inform you that after a lavish holy bath with the water of 108pitchers, the divine siblings of Puri temple — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra andGoddess Subhadra have caught fever. So the trinity takes rest in ‘Anasara Ghara’where the lord receives the secret seva of raj vaidyas and daitapatis . On the regardshe recognized that Lord Jagannath Cult on North Odisha Jagannath temples throughritual Pattidian. This 6 days program is popularly known as Pattidian Anka Utsav withPattapainting Training, Workshop, Exhibition, and Seminar since 2015. In this eventhe personally participates and promotes traditional & new budding artists to take partin this event.

Contribute to Odisha cartoonsAt first he steped as acartoonist and got all he needed. His cartoons and caricaturewere published in many reputed newspapers, periodicals and magazines. He wasthe man behind organizing the first State Level Child Cartoon Art Competition during1987-98, with this he also published a book named “BARNAMALA SAHA SAHAJCARTOON SHIKHYA’ that contained tricks to draw cartoons in a simpler way on

Odia Alphabets, which encouraged and attracted thousands of children forcartoonism.

CONTRIBUTE TO ODISHAN SAND ARTAdding Cultural value in Sand Art: Balire Naibidya

Odisha is famous for its incredible sand art. To make the sand city Balasore moreattractive and artistic, he started familiarizing the sand art. He is very active inpublishing sand art on contemporary society’s issue. He made a sand gallery atBaleshwar for upcoming sand artist and visitors. 10 avatar of lord Jagannath in sandduring every Rath Yatra time. This 9 days program is popularly known as ‘BalireNaibidya’. In this event he personally participates and promotes new budding artiststo take part in this event.Amelioration Of Traditional And Regional Floor Painting: JhotiArtist Kesu Das has taken initiative to popularize the traditional Manabasa - Jhotipainting from home to worldwide which is generally shown in different festivals andrituals. By the motivation of artist Das, Every year on the last Thursday of the monthof Margashira, the odia women create Jhoti in front of their home.Mass Awareness Of Tribal Painting:In 2007 an one month door to door wall painting camp was organized by keshu dasto give a new looks to the tribal slums and resuscitate the tribal wall painting as wellas to develop the artistic eligibility and consciousness of tribal women.And latter onits effect were seen on Bhubneswar’s boundries and it also taken by “sarva sikshaaviyan”. During the 2009 election, Keshudas had organized a tribal paintingexhibition taking tribal students to aware about the transparency in voting whichcreated a great impact on the mind set of tribal people..

Contribute To Society

Empowerment of women: Naba matruka PujaTo protest the uncultured activity in Durga Puja and to promote womenempowerment, activist Das started worshiping 9 dignified women by presenting theirportraits in each day starting from Mahalaya to Nawbmi of Durga puja

Conservation of Horseshoe Crab: The Fossilac

Horseshoe crabs are found in the coastal belt of Odisha state, particularly in thecoastline of Balasore district. These rare and unique crabs have often been referredto as Living Fossil owing to the conserved and steady state of existence since

around last 450 million years.He started awering people about this creature and itssignificance to mankind by organizing art compedition ,sand art ,and conference.

Cultural Adviser at North Odisha Chambers of Commerce & Industries(NOCCi)

Since 2013, as a Cultural Adviser of Northa Odisha Chambers of Commerce &Industries (NOCCi), he has been continuing a weekend cultural programe at UtkalaaOpen Theatre in the premises of NOCCi Business Park to promote new visual &performing artists, same time reward respected artists. For literature, he startedMonthly Facebook Kabita Asar on 4th Sunday in every month.

Every year in Balasore, the programs of Kesu Das, the man who has brought arenaissance in the field of art and culture of Balasore, are held at particularoccasions. He is the first man to introduce the contemporary art like Insulation Art,Performing Art, Public Art and 3 Dimensional (3D At), Sand Art, The Waste-installation Tread Art in Balasore, Odisha. Now a day’s these innovative thoughtsand ideas are hardly seen in any artists. Kesu Das came from a lower middle classfamily of a remote coastal village, Dublagadi, lives in Balasore town, in a rentedhouse and manage his small family in joy and sorrow. But the footprint that he gavein the field of art, tradition and culture is simply remarkable Mass awareness ofTribal Painting:

Unique Indian Lacquer Painting of Kesu Das

Kesudas With Eminent Person

With Biodiversity Conservatisms

Dolls’ marriage to revive Balasore art

SIBDAS KUNDU

(THE TELEGRAPH< BBSR< Thursday , April 21 , 2011)

Traditional lacquer dolls ofBalasore. Telegraph pictures

Balasore, April 20: On May 28, the Bakleswari Kala Kendra (BKK), a socio-cultural organisation,has decided to organise a symbolic marriage of two dolls. The outfit feels that the symbolic act willhelp to revive the tradition of making lacquer dolls.

Though the marriage ceremony is more than a month away, the organisers are already on the job.Sources said a committee comprising people from several section of the society has been formed.“The main objective is to revive lacquer work, which is an age-old art practiced by the people of theregion. We want to popularise it,” said Kesu Das, an artist and BKK director.

Presence of lacquer articles in the house, once considered auspicious, has dwindled. “They havebeen relegated to the background with machine-made articles and feng shui taking over,” he said.

The wedding ceremony would be a grand affair. The ceremony will adhere to all customs andtraditions. “We have selected the parents of the bride and the bridegroom. On the day of themarriage, the groom will come in a procession and after a feast, the marriage customs will be held,”said Das.

“We have been entrusted with the responsibility of acting as parents of the bridegroom andaccordingly we are preparing ourselves,” said Subasini Jena, a member of the marriage committeeand BKK patron.

“The marriage between a pair of dolls is considered auspicious. In good old days, people used toarrange such marriages. Besides, organising such marriages and participating and witnessing theevent were also considered auspicious,” she added.

“It was believed that the presence of a pair dolls in the house would enrich and strengthen thenuptial bond. It would also add peace and prosperity to marital life. However, the doll lost itssignificance and the customs and traditions attached to it lost their importance,” she said.

A pair of dolls was generally taken home during Savitri Ambasha. On that day (new moon day), women observe fast for the well beingof their spouse and children.

Savitri, as per mythological belief, had brought her dead husband back to life on a new moon night. She did it by appeasing LordYama, the god of death.

“This is not the first occasion that such a marriage would be held. But this time, it is going to be held in a grand manner to populariseand propagate our culture,” said committee member Niranjan Das.

Jhnuti (indigenous art using rice powder) would be made on the occasion. This apart, customs such as hulhuli (a kind of soundproduced by women folk on auspicious occasions) will be observed.

Bangles, ornaments, bamboo boxes, wooden crafts, terracotta and dolls made of lacquer are very popular in the region. Craftsmen ofthe region specialise in making dolls using baking clay and paint them with various attractive colours that use lacquer.

A number of families in Balasore still thrive on lacquer work

Wedding to revive lacquer art

- Civil society members spend lakhs to organise unique event

(THE TELEGRAPH< BBSR< Tuesday , May 31 , 2011)

SIBDAS KUNDUBalasore, May 30: Hundreds of people witnessed the marriage of a pair of lacquerdolls, Jayanta and Usha, which was solemnised here yesterday.

The date for tying the nuptial knot had earlier been fixed at a temple in Sahadevkhunta.After showering their blessings on the newly-weds, the people took part in a feast thathad been arranged by the groom’s side.

The marriage was a five-day affair organised by members of the civil society for thefirst time involving an expenditure of several lakh rupees to popularise the indigenouslacquer works of undivided Balasore district, which is virtually going extinct.

“Legend has it that Jayanta was the grandson of Lord Krishna and Usha, the daughterof the mighty demon Banasur, who is believed to have ruled this district.

“The name Balasore has been derived the demon’s name,” said Biswanath Rana, abank officer and culture lover.

For the marriage between a pair of lacquer dolls or jau kandhei, art and cultureorganisation Baleswari Kala Kendra (BKK) played an instrumental role in thepreparations. Invitation cards were also distributed.

The procession (baraat), which took off from Public School near the collector’sresidence, with traditional drum beats, pipers, folk dance and fireworks, reached thebride’s house located 2km away.

“I was asked to play the role of the groom’s mother. It is a part of the marriage wherethe expenditure is shared collectively,” said Subasini Jena, president of Rotary’s InnerWheel Club, Balasore, adding that the reception dinner (priti bhojan) would be held onTuesday at the school.

The symbolic marriage between a pair of dolls was held following traditional Hindumarriage rituals. “Priests from both sides performed the marriage rituals,” saidBhagban Mohini, president of Sahadevkhunta Club, who acted as the bride’s father.

BKK director Kesu Das said plans to conduct mass marriages for the poor next yearonwards.

The inaugural function was attended by district collector Akhil Bihari Ota, vice-chancellor of Fakir Mohan University Kumarbar Das and several prominentpersonalities from different walks of life.

“It is a positive approach by the people of a culturally and educationally vibrant districtto revive an indigenous art work which is losing its relevance,” Das said.

“It is a collective effort made by the people of various sections of society.

“Their interest is, in fact, an encouraging trend for the revival of lacquer works,” saidOta, who also encouraged the event by putting up some informative stalls of districtadministration at the marriage venue.

Wedding bells to ring for dolls, everyone’s invited

THE TELEGRAPH< BBSR >Friday , May 11 , 2012

SIBDAS KUNDU

Balasore, May 10: The wedding ceremony of lacquer dolls will be held in Balasoreon Wednesday. This event has transformed the town into a wedding mandap.

In an effort to popularise the dying traditional lacquer works of the district, localresidents have decided to annually solemnise the wedding between a pair ofdolls — depicting the bride and the groom.

This year many people are showing interest in the event, making the concept asuccess.

“The response this time has been very encouraging. The lacquer dolls havebeen made out of auspicious water and soil from the Ganges in Haridwar andCalcutta. We are receiving the materials required for the wedding such asdresses, utensils, and decorative items from different parts of India sent by theOdia residents,” said Kesu Das, one of the members of the organisingcommittee and the key initiator of the event.

All the events of the doll’s wedding will take placquere as per rituals followingauthentic Odia culture and tradition, said Brajanath Rath, a poet and thepresident of the marriage organising committee.

One can witness the event between May 16 and 19. It would have the essenceof a perfect traditional marriage.

While Upendra Patra, a resident of Balia in the town, is playing the bara karta or the groom’s caretaker,Labangalata Biswal, resident of Angargadia here, is the kanya karta, taking up the responsibilities the bride.

“We are fortunate to share the responsibilities of bride. The unique wedding is worth seeing and everyoneis invited to come and be a part of the gala event,” said Biswal.

The marriage between a pair of lacquer dolls has been derived from an age-old tradition of Balasore thatused to be held since it was considered auspicious.

(Top) Lacquer dolls of thebride and the groom and(above) people making thedolls in Balasore. Telegraphpictures

Wedding bells ring for lacquer dolls

The Telegraph< BBSR> Friday , May 18 , 2012

SIBDAS KUNDU

Balasore, May 17: Balasore turned into a grand wedding venue as hundreds of peopleassembled on Wednesday to witness the union between the two lacquer dolls — Uttara andAbhimanyu — named after mythological characters.

The tradition of conducting a wedding between lacquer dolls has entered its second year.

The initiative has been taken by a group of residents who are passionate about reviving,promoting and propagating the indigenous lacquer art.

“The name Uttara and Abhimanyu have a mythological connection and are characters of theMahabharat, the great epic,” said Kesu Das, one of the members organising the event. “Thesymbolic names were chosen by our marriage committee,” he added.

According to the schedule, a colourful procession began from the residence of the bridegroom — the Town Hall.His baraat (wedding procession) was accompanied with lively music of traditional drums and other instruments and the bursting ofcrackers.

The local people who chose to be relatives of the groom were seen dancing with vigour. Theprocession reached the residence of the bride at Siddheswar temple in about two hours.

The wedding took placquere at the temple in Odia traditions. Members of the groom’s side, the barayatris, enjoyed a lavish dinner.

“I was the brother of Uttara and accordingly my parents and I carried out all the rituals that arerequired in a typical Odia wedding,” said Bijayketan Biswal.

“We put in our best efforts required from the house of the bride to make the wedding as real aspossible,” he said.

People from different parts of the country came together to witness the ceremony. For most of them, itwas a once in a lifetime experience.

“After learning from one of my friends at Balasore about the dolls’ marriage I was drawn to theplacquere. It was not only a unique one but also an unforgettable event,” said Mandar Mukherjee,reader of a college under Calcutta University.

“I am amazed to see the efforts put in by people here to revive aspects of culture that are getting lost. Iwould like to be part of this event in the coming years,” she said.

Now that the wedding ceremony has been completed in a grand way, the reception will be held at Town Hall on Saturday. Duringthis period there would be cultural activities every evening, said well-known poet Brajanath Rath, president of the marriagecommittee.

Residents take part in thewedding ceremony of dollsat Siddheswar temple inBalasore. Telegraphpictures

The bride and groom beingtaken around in a car

DOLLS’ MARRIAGE HELD IN B’SWARSaturday, 16 May 2015 | UBACHAK MOHANTY | BALESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

The much touted marriage between a pair of dolls was solemnised on Thursday evening here as perschedule with pomp.

The marriage venue was the Defence Colony near the KV Baleswar and the groom’s procession beganfrom Gandhismurti Bhawan.

The groom arrived at the colony in a procession which witnessed light, crackers, drums, dances andtraditional martial art show. The groom along with his party was received by the family members of thebride like in any other marriage.

The event is being observed symbolically for last six years to popularize the lacquer works, an indigenousart of the district. This year the name of the bride and groom were Padmavati and Purosottam respectively.

DRDO senior scientist and additional director of ITR Dr Binay Das acted as bride’s father, while PHEDassistant engineer Ashok Mohapatra was groom’s father. A lavish banquet was thrown on the occasion.

Dr Das said, “I and my family feel fortunate to be representing the bride’s side. The tying of nuptial knot washeld very peacefully. The residents especially the women and children participated with a greatenthusiasm.” Kesu Das, a key organizer, said, ‘Although the marriage between in the district was initiatedby BKK, Baleswari Kala Kendra in a small way, yet now it has gained enough popularity and is observed bya committee comprising civil society members.”

Subasini Jena, a culture lover and key founder member of lacquer dolls’ marriage committee, said, “Theprime objective of the doll’s marriage was to promote and propagate the lacquer works. A considerabledegree of success has been achieved in last 6 years in this direction,” adding that efforts should be made tosee that the artisans get adequate market to sell their products.